CASBAA: “Satellite competition is fierce”

“There have been more dramatic changes in the global satellite industry in the past two years than we have been seen in the last twenty-five,” said Steve Collar, CEO of SES Networks, speaking at the close of the CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2017 in Singapore.

That comment summarised nine hours of insights, statements and data downloads testing the temperature of the Asian satellite market at CASBAA’s 17th annual meeting of satellite executives, engineers and investors.

“This has been an energising, challenging day which laid out the immediate and long-term opportunities and challenges for the satellite sector in Asia in terms of both commercial and technical issues,” said CASBAA CEO, Christopher Slaughter. “We have been given a lot to think about. Innovation at every level must be at the heart of all our businesses.”

According to keynote speaker Andrew Jordan, CEO of regional operator AsiaSat, video distribution via satellite represents some 70 per cent of revenues for most GEO satellite operators in the region with Ultra High Definition and 4K services “all the rage” despite representing a less than 20 per cent transition from Standard Definition services in Asia. “Mobility and broadband are the latest must-have applications, driving HTS (High Throughput Satellites) which is a maturing technology with enormous promise,”

The potential benefits and disadvantages of HTS and “cut-throat” competition were an overarching theme of the conference, which also covered such items as in-flight connectivity, maritime services, reusable launch vehicles, flat panel antennas, new satellite manufacturing processes and the on-going promise of the satellite market in India.

Key quotes from the event:

From the Operators

There are 600 million households out there without TV. The opportunity for satellite remains enormous – Tom Choi, ABS

When the millennials start families they are like the rest of US. They slump back on their settees – Andrew Jordan, AsiaSat

If we don’t play in the 5G space other technologies will take over for sure – Deepak Mather, SES

From the Manufacturers

Our customers are increasingly asking for Flexible, Refreshable, Blended Constellations that will last forever. It’s all over the map – Dawn Harms, Boeing Satellite

Manufacturers also need to help with the ground segment – Tony Colucci, VP Sales, SSL

From GEO to LEO . . . It’s a cultural difference – Tony Colucci, SSL

To provide for the “extended life” of a satellites (maybe to match the life of a co-located satellite) GEO manufacturers need agree on a standardized USB for in-orbit connectivity – Olivier Guilbert, Thales Alenia

Now we must be “Datacentric”, Tony Colucci, SSL

From the Customers

We are now entering uncharted territory – Chris Baugh, Northern Sky Research

Competition is fierce – PJ Beylier, Speedcast

Consolidation is coming, but it must be at the operator level – Deepakajit Singh, Encompass Media

Transponder costs may yet fall by 30%-40% — Deepak Singh, Encompass

On HTS

HTS is the thing — Tony Colucci, SSL

It’s not just about providing highest throughput, it’s about jointly driving the ecosystem to make it more efficient – Elias Zaccack, SES

On Flat Panels

We need multi frequency, multi-beam spectrum. The ability to switch between Ka to KU via LEO or GEO is crucial — John Finney, Isotropic

It’s more complicated than almost anybody thought a few years ago – Susan Bull, Comsys

People aren’t going to buy a flat-panel antenna just because it’s pretty! — Alvaro Sanchez, Intergrasys

The Launch Panel

Our objective is to relaunch the rocket after one hour — Jonathan Hofeller, SpaceX

Launch, Re-fuel and re-launch — Jonathan Hofeller, SpaceX

They say there will be 24,000 LEO launches in the next while. What about space junk? – Peter Jackson, PJ Square

Less price, more performance! That is what we will deliver ,– Tom Carroll, ILS International

On India

Digitise, digitise, digitise! But when can we monetise? – Ashok Mansukhani, Hinduja Media

India is a country where stats barely make sense — Ashok Mansukhani

The DTH industry will remain a volume-led market for the next five years – Vivek Couto, MPA